Larry's
Independent Service has been specializing in the service and repair
of ACURA automobiles for OVER 22 YEARS. We're your premier ACURA
repair and maintenance option because we have exceptional service
You won't find another repair facility that will take better care
of
YOU and YOUR ACURA.

ACURA
REPAIR

We
are committed to you with fast, quality preventative maintenance
service to help preserve the health of your ACURA. You'll also
enjoy the efficiency of our professional staff who is devoted
to exceptional service, personal attention and respect for your
time.

We
are fully computerized and maintain all of your vehicle's history
in our network storage. If you ever happen to develop car
trouble while you are out of town and they try to sell you a "necessary
part", all you have to do is call us and we can tell you
whether the component had been either repaired or replaced previously.
And at the end of the year, if you need your records for tax purposes,
we'll gladly print you an itemized list of all the services and
repairs to help you speed up your tax return.

Our
waiting room is setup so that you can wait comfortably whenever
you might need a quick oil change, minor service or estimate.
Enjoy our Wi-Fi enabled waiting room or we can turn the TV on
for you!

WHAT
MAKES US DIFFERENT FROM ACURA DEALERSHIP SERVICE?

Personalized
Service
- To us you are not just another repair ticket. You are a CUSTOMER
in every sense of the word!

Owner
and/or Manager-
Always on the premises.

Free
Local Shuttle
- To your home or office.

Above
All-Empathy!
- We are very much aware of how unexpected repair bills can put
a dent in your budget. We will let you know the items that might
need immediate attention and the ones that can wait for a next
appointment.

We
don't want you to be a "One Time Customer"
- We want you to become a Customer and Friend for years to come.

Many
service facilities have forgotten what the word CUSTOMER
really means. We can assure you that we are fully aware of it's
meaning and you will always get personalized service in all your
vehicle's repairs and service needs.

Acura
holds the distinction of being the first Japanese automotive
luxury brand.
The creation of Acura coincided with the introduction of a JDM
Honda dealership sales channel, called Honda
Clio, which sold luxury vehicles, joining previously established
Honda Verno, followed by Honda Primo the following year. In
its first few years of existence, Acura was among the best-selling
luxury marques in the US. Though sales were down in the mid-to-late
1990s, the brand experienced a revival in the early 2000s, due
to drastic redesigns and the introductions of new models.

Since
its inception, Acura has been a trailblazer in the automotive
industry. In the late 1980s, the success of the company's
first flagship vehicle, the Legend,
inspired fellow Japanese automakers Toyota
and Nissan to launch
their own luxury brands, Lexus
and Infiniti,
respectively. The 1990 launch of the NSX,
a mid-engine exotic sports car, offered a reliable and practical
alternative to exotic European sports cars, and introduced Honda's
VTECvariable
valve timing system to the North American market. The 1993
Legend coupé featured Honda's first use of a six-speed manual
transmission, mated to a Type II engine. In the late 1990s,
Acura produced a Type
R version of its compact Integra
coupé, which featured a reduced curb
weight, a stiffer and lower suspension, and a high-output
VTEC engine.

In
the early 2000s, Acura introduced new models, including the
company's first all-original SUV, the MDX,
and two models which replaced the Integra coupé and sedan, the
RSX
and TSX, respectively.
Type-S versions of the RSX, CL,
and TL were added
to the brand's lineup during that decade. Acura's 2005 RL
flagship introduced SH-AWD,
a torque-vectoring all-wheel
drive system. The 2007 RDX,
a crossover SUV, featured the first North American use of a
turbocharged
Honda engine. In the 2010s, Acura debuted more new models, including
the ILX, TLX,
and RLX, the
latter of which introduced Acura's Jewel Eye LED
headlights. A second generation NSX was launched in 2015 and
features a twin-turbocharged mid-engine, a nine-speed dual-clutch
transmission, and Sport Hybrid
SH-AWD.

History

1980s:
Introduction of the Acura brand

Following
a decade of research, Honda opened 60 new dealerships
in North America by 1986, to support its Acura automobile
division. Acura was the first Japanese luxury brand, introduced
under the slogan, "Acura. Precision Crafted Automobiles."
Its initial offering consisted of two models: the executive
classLegend
and the compact
classIntegra,
available as a five-door and three-door hatchback. The
Legend was the result of Project XX, a joint venture Honda
entered into with the UK's
Austin
Rover Group. It was mechanically related to the Rover
800 series, while the Integra was an improvement of
the Honda
Quint hatchback.

The
success of these models, particularly the Legend, led
to competing Japanese luxury brand ventures (Toyota's
Lexus that began
development in 1983 as the F1
project, and Nissan's
Infiniti
who began development in 1985 by revising their Japan-only
flagship Nissan
President; in the late 1990s Mazda planned but never
launched its own Amati luxury division). The goal of the
Legend was to compete with rivals Toyota
Crown and the Nissan
Cedric and Gloria,
but due to its 1986 introduction worldwide, Toyota, Nissan
and other companies like Lincoln
took notice of the markets reaction to the Legend and
later the Vigor
and offered vehicles that addressed the executive size
car. Toyota introduced the Lexus
ES, Nissan introduced the Infiniti
J30 and Ford utilized the Taurus
platform and named their new sedan the Lincoln
Continental.

In
1987, Acura's first full year of sales, they sold 109,000
cars with the flagship Legend sedan accounting for 55,000
sales and the rest were of the smaller Integra. By 1990,
Acura was selling 138,000 vehicles, including 54,000 Legends,
compared to Mercedes-Benz's 78,000 cars and 64,000 each
for BMW and Lexus.

1990s:
NSX, updates

In
1990, five years after the debut of the Legend and Integra,
Acura introduced the NSX,
a midship V6 powered, rear-wheel-drive sports car. The
NSX, an acronym for "New Sports eXperimental", was billed
as the first Japanese car capable of competing with Ferrari
and Porsche.
This vehicle served as an "image car" for both the Honda
and Acura brands, heralding the introduction of Honda's
VTEC technology.
The NSX was the world's first all-aluminum production
car, and was also marketed and viewed by some as the "Everyday
Supercar" thanks in part to its ease of use, quality and
reliability, traits that were unheard of in the supercar
segment at the time. With the release of the NSX, Acura
introduced the "A-badge", a stylized pair of calipers—a
tool used for exacting measurements to imply that Acura
vehicles are built to precise and demanding standards.

Despite
a strong start in market acceptance for the Acura brand,
sales suffered in the mid-to-late 1990s. Some critics
attributed this decline in part to less inspiring designs,
which were re-branded Japanese-spec Hondas, such as the
Acura
Vigor in 1992. Additionally, during this time Acura
switched to an alphanumeric nomenclature formula, dropping
the Legend, Vigor and Integra titles, following the lead
of the NSX sportscar. The 1996 3.5 RL, which replaced
the popular Legend, and the Vigor became the 2.5 TL and
3.2 TL, and was regarded by many as the epitome of this
problem, namely because the alphanumeric designations
were more anonymous than the former Legend, Vigor and
Integra titles, which had grown into their own cult followings.

The
parent company, Honda, was also feeling the results of
the decline of the Japanese economy, due to the Japanese
asset price bubble that took place during the 1990s
and into the 2000s. This period is known in Japan as The
Lost Decade.

During
this time, the NSX also lost sales as Acura made few changes
from its original 1990 trim. A year later, the Integra
sedan was withdrawn from the Canadian market, replaced
by the market-exclusive Acura
1.6 EL, a rebadged Honda
Civic/Domani.
The Integra sedan continued to be sold in the United States
until 2001 (in name only, the model it was replaced with,
the RSX, was simply a rebadged left-hand-drive version
of the JDM DC5 Honda Integra).

Despite
these letdowns, Acura gained prominence in the 1990s with
a young group of customers: "tuner" enthusiasts. Parent
company Honda's reputation with this demographic as a
maker of "easy-to-tune" and "rev-happy" engines rubbed
off onto Acura, and the Integra became a popular tuner
car.

2000–2003:
TL, RSX, MDX

Beginning
around the year 2000, Acura experienced a rebirth which
was catalyzed by the introduction of several redesigned
models. The first of these models was the 1999 Acura 3.2
TL, an upscale sedan. Critics suggested that although
3.2 TL did not outdo its competition in any one area of
luxury cars, it offered a well-rounded blend of sportiness
and luxury.
These characteristics, combined with the TL's competitive
price, proved very popular with consumers. Subsequent
Acura models have followed a similar philosophy of offering
lots of standard equipment and very few options.

Another
refreshed Acura introduced in the early 2000s was the
MDX, a
popular three-row crossover SUV based on the Honda
Odyssey minivan. The MDX replaced the slow-selling
SLX,
which was little more than a rebadged Isuzu
Trooper. The MDX was a car-like crossover SUV with
limited off-road capability that catered to the demands
of the luxury SUV market. It was given top honors by Car
and Driver in its first comparison test against seven
other SUVs.
Other cars in Acura's line-up during this time included
the 3.2 TL, 3.2 CL,
RSX (formerly the Integra hatchback), and the NSX. By
the late 2000s, Acura had dropped the inclusion of engine
displacement numbers in its vehicle designations, retaining
a simpler, two- or three-letter designation instead (e.g.
3.5 RL became RL). The 1999-2003 TL have been plagued
by transmission and other problems.

In
2001, a new coupe, badged as the RSX was introduced to
the Acura line up. It was a replacement for the outgoing
Integra. The RSX is a rebadged Honda Integra (DC5) from
the Japanese market. As a result, the RSX is technically
a new generation of the outgoing Integra. Much like the
Integra, the RSX was a hit in the tuner market. However,
at the end of 2006, the RSX was taken out of the Acura
line up, subsequently in the Japanese market as well.
It is not known why the RSX did not continue to be sold
as the Integra in Japan, however, the reason that Acura
gave for the cancellation of the RSX is that Acura wishes
to move up in the luxury brand, thus cannot sell a car
that is mostly driven by teenagers.

2004–2006:
RL, TSX, RDX

A
new TL debuted for the 2004 model year, featuring sharp,
Italianate styling and a 270 hp (200 kW) V6
measured by the then-current SAE
standards. The new TL increased sales dramatically to
70,943 American units in 2005.

Also
around the same time the Acura
TSX was introduced. It was essentially a re-badged
European and Japanese market Honda Accord loaded with
features. This model became the only 4-cylinder sedan
in Acura's line-up (with the exception of the Canadian
market Acura
CSX, which replaced the EL in 2006).

In
2005, a new RL was introduced with a 300 hp (220 kW)
V6, improved styling, and Super Handling All-Wheel Drive
(SH-AWD), a system capable of sending almost all of the
RL's power to just one wheel in a turn. The second-generation
RL appeared on Car
and Driver's Ten
Best list for 2005, and also garnered an CNET.com
"Editor's Choice" When the RL was introduced, it did not
perceive Acura as being on par with its German rivals
and expected more value from the Japanese marque. The
damage from Honda Japan's alleged hubris was done, even
though Honda Canada has since reduced the RL's price.

Acura's
new models—particularly the TL and TSX—were well received
by the motoring press and became Acura's top selling vehicles.
The TSX was on Car
and Driver's Ten Best list from 2004–2006.

In
2006 Acura introduced a small SUV which was based on its
own unique unibody chassis called the RDX
with models becoming available to U.S. consumers in August
2006. It is powered by a turbocharged 240-hp 4-cylinder
engine and, like the RL, uses Acura's SH-AWD
system. The model is available in two versions: Premium
(the standard offering), and Technology Package (an upgraded
offering with a GPS navigation system). A completely redesigned
MDX became available in the fall of 2006 with a 300 hp
(220 kW) V6 engine and Super Handling All-Wheel Drive.

2007–present:
ILX, TLX, RLX, RDX, MDX, ZDX

Acura
re-introduced the TL Type-S for the 2007 model year. 2009
marked the all new TL and TSX models as well as a mid-year
model update for the RL; all three made their debuts in
the 2008 calendar year. Acura planned on redesigning the
RL by 2011 as well as announced the creation of a brand
new luxury crossover vehicle called the ZDX,
previewed by the concept of the same name.

The
ZDX was the first Acura designed in Acura's design studio
located at Torrance in Southern California. The ZDX was
designed by Michelle Christensen and based on the Acura
MDX using that vehicles 3.7 litre V6 engine (300 bhp)
and SH-AWD system. A common misconception is that it is
based on the Honda Crosstour which was based on the Honda
Accord rather than the bigger and more complex underpinnings
of the MDX. It is also the first Acura to be completely
built in North America. The production model of the ZDX
made its debut in the Orange County Auto Show in Southern
California on October 15, 2009. The concept behind the
ZDX is that it is a "four door coupe," and the design
emphasis of the body of the car is like a "pulled back
slingshot." Another prominent design aspect of the ZDX
is the wide rear shoulders above the rear wheels. The
ZDX went on sale in December 2009.

Acura
initially had plans for the third generation of RL to
be a rear wheel drive V8 sedan for its flagship,
but shelved the plans in the wake of the 2008 economic
downturn.

Acura
announced new TSX wagon in the 2010 New York Auto Show
and the car is due to go on sale in Fall of 2010. The
wagon version of the TSX is based on the wagon version
of the Euro-spec Honda Accord which has been in the European
market for some time. However, Acura did not announce
any plans for the third-generation RL.

For
the 2010 model year the MDX models received some slight
exterior changes and increased equipment levels. Mechanically
the engine remained unchanged but the transmission was
updated from the previous 5-speeds to 6-speeds including
steering column mounted shift override paddles. This new
transmission was shared with the ZDX.

In
2012, Acura introduced a new model called the ILX
which is based heavily on the Honda
Civic platform. It shares the same 3 power train variants
from the Civic: the 2.0L, 2.4L VTEC and a 1.5L Hybrid.
It also unveiled the Acura
RLX Concept, a replacement for the RL sedan, at the
New York International Auto Show. The ILX went on sale
in May 2012 in the United
States as a 2013 model.

Also
in 2012, Acura "reinvented" another model, The RDX concept.
For the new model, Acura dropped the 4 cylinder turbo
for a 3.5L V6. When the official 2013 Acura RDX was released,
it was relatively similar to the concept but had changes
in wheels, taillights, and some other cosmetics. A lot
of this Acura looks like its brother the ILX. The 2013
RDX doesn't have the SH-AWD system instead it has "AWD
with intelligent control", similar to the CR-V's AWD system.
The RDX is now available with BASE, BASE AWD, TECH., and
TECH AWD.

In
2013, Acura showed a 2014 Concept of the MDX. Shortly
after, it was released to the public. The MDX competes
with the Lexus RX, Audi Q7, and many others. For the first
time, American buyers of the 2014 MDX didn't have to get
the SH-AWD model since Acura released the FWD model of
the MDX. However the Canadians will have SH-AWD with the
standard model of the MDX due to weather conditions. This
model also gets the Jewel Eye LED lights similar to the
RLX. The trim levels are BASE, TECH, TECH AND ENTERTAINMENT,
and ADVANCE AND ENTERTAINMENT. All of these can be equipped
with SH-AWD.

For
the 2014 model of the RDX. Acura drops color Amber Brownstone
which was really popular for Kona Coffee Metallic from
the CR-V. The new color is a little darker. Changes for
the 2014 ILX include the 1.5L engine being dropped and
leather now being standard on all trims.

In
December 2013, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Acura unveiled
a Sport Hybrid SH-AWD version of the flagship RLX sedan.
It will be the most powerful and technologically advanced
vehicle in Acura's history. This high-end vehicle will
come standard with a 310-horsepower 3.5L V6 engine and
a pair of electric motors (one for each axle) that generate
a combined 377 horsepower through a new 7-speed dual clutch
transmission. Acura technology firsts on the 2014 RLX
Sport Hybrid SH-AWD also include an electronic gear selector
that replaces the conventional, center console-mounted
shift lever with an efficiently packaged push-button array
allowing the driver to easily select the desired mode—Park,
Drive and Reverse, as well as Sport and Normal driving
modes. The new RLX Sport Hybrid will go on sale in mid-2014.

In
January 2014, at the Detroit Auto Show, Acura unveiled
the all-new 2015 TLX sports sedan. This new vehicle will
replace the soon to be discontinued TSX and TL sedans.
The TLX in the 2.4-liter comes with Acura’s all new eight-speed
dual clutch DCT transmission. Meanwhile, the high-end
3.5-liter V6 model will come with the new nine-speed transmission
and Super-Handling All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD). The TLX went
on sale in the Summer of 2014.

Also
redesigned is the 2016 RDX. Featured with the same 3.5L
6-speed automatic with some slight adjustments for efficiency
and hp/torque boosts. The RDX gets the Acura Jewel Eye
LED treatment as well. A new suspension is added to "solve"
the shock failures of 2013-2015 models. A new Advance
Package is being offered with the inclusion of upgraded
wheels, parking sensors (front and rear), rain-sensing
windshield wipers, auto-dimming side mirrors, remote start,
ventilated seats, and foglights. Acura is making foglight
an option for those lower trims such as Technology Package
and Premium. AcuraWatch is also now being offered throughout
the line.

Racing

Almost
since its inception, Acura has been involved in American
motorsports, specifically in Sports
Car Club of America (SCCA) and IMSA
GT Championship series. Starting in 1991, Acura reached
an agreement with Comptech
Racing to use the V6 motor of the all-new Acura
NSX in Comptech's Camel Lights Spice
prototype. Acura would go on to take the Lights championship
in its initial year, including a class win at the 24
Hours of Daytona. Acura and Comptech
would take the Lights championships again in 1992 and
1993, as well as another Daytona class win in 1992 and
a class win at the 12
Hours of Sebring for 1993.

However
a change in the IMSA rules would lead to the demise of
the Camel Lights, and so Acura moved to touring
car racing, joining Realtime Racing in the SCCA World
Challenge with the NSX in 1996, winning the final
two races of the season. In 1997, Acura added Acura
Integras to the lower classes, and were successful
in taking the championship in both of these classes. Realtime
took the touring championship with the Integra again in
1998, and came within a few points of winning it again
in 1999 only to lose it in the final race, then coming
back to retake the title in 2000.

Although
Realtime had abandoned the NSX program in 1998, the NSXs
returned to the top class in 2001. Although the NSX squad
suffered mechanical woes and were unable to take the title,
the Integras of the touring class once again took the
teams championship. By 2002, Acura replaced the aged Integra
with the new Acura
RSX in the final races of the season, scoring good
finishes in their debut. At the same time, Acura finally
retired the NSXs from the top GT class. The RSXs would
later be joined by new Acura
TSXs in 2004. Realtime continues to campaign the RSX
and TSX in the SCCA Speed
World Challenge. Acura also currently races RSXs and
TSXs in the Grand
American Road Racing Association's KONI
Challenge Series for touring cars.

The
three Acura-powered prototypes debuted at the 2007
12 Hours of Sebring, which was the opening round of
the ALMS season, and were successful in their debut. Andretti
Green's Acura took second place overall and first in the
LMP2 class, while Fernández Racing took third overall,
and Highcroft sixth, beating a series of established Porsche
teams in their class. At the same time, Acura began development
of their own chassis by heavily modifying their purchased
Courage chassis. The cars now have been so radically changed
from their original orientation that they are now named
Acura
ARX-01a. Acura will introduce evolved B-spec cars
in the 2008 season, with Gil
de Ferran launching a fourth Acura team in the ALMS.

In
2010, Honda rebadged all Acura prototypes as Honda
Performance Development (HPD) cars, and announced
that all future prototypes (such as the HPD
ARX-03) would be constructed under the HPD name.

Acura
did not participate in motorsports again until 2013, where
an Acura ILX was unofficially entered in the 25 Hours
of Thunderhill by Honda engineers. The car would retire
from the race due to engine problems.

The
Acura ILX returned to Thunderhill for the 2014 25-hour
race. This time the car won its class and finished 8th
overall.

Marketing

The
Acura logo, introduced in 1990 for the 1991 model year,
is a stylised "A" (for Acura) that can also be interpreted
as a skewed "H" (for Honda). The logo that was originally
authorized without approval by Soichiro
Honda did not contain the small horizontal bar joining
the two vertical pillars—thus, it did not form the letter
"H". Soichiro Honda ordered the 5,000 badges already produced
to be destroyed, including prying off the emblems applied
to 309 cars already (US-spec Integra, Legend, and NSX
models).

Acura's
current marketing slogan is "Advance."
Recent models include Technology, Advance, Type-S, and
SH-AWD trim levels. Technology and Advance models typically
come with the latest hi-tech features such as keyless
start and a blind
spot information system. Type-S and SH-AWD models
are performance-oriented, with a substantial increase
in horsepower compared to the lower trim levels. Some
models, such as the TL, also combine trim levels (i.e.
"SH-AWD with Advance").

Acura
began an association with Marvel
Entertainment in 2010, upon release of the film Iron
Man 2, which featured a ZDX after the ending credits.
On April 20, 2011, Acura and Marvel announced a promotional
campaign, making Acura the official brand of Marvel's
fictional S.H.I.E.L.D.
organization.
Soon thereafter, several Acura models—such as the MDX,
ZDX, RL, and TL—appeared in the films Thor
and Captain
America: The First Avenger. In the 2012 film,
The
Avengers, Iron
Man (played by Robert
Downey, Jr.) drove an exotic sportscar by Acura, made
specifically for the film,
rather than the Audi
R8 he previously drove. It was rumored that the car
spotted during filming was a concept for the second generation
NSX,
however, a different-looking 2012 Acura NSX Concept was
unveiled at the North
American International Auto Show, on January 9, 2012.

^Nunn,
Peter (October 1990). "Honda emblem inACURAte". Wheels
(Sydney):
28. Development of the Acura badge you see here
— destined for upscale American Hondas such as the
NSX and '91 Integra and Legend — caused an enormous
amount of aggro for company underlinings. The original
design was okayed without Mr Honda's approval, getting
as far as full, final production before The Man cast
eyes on it. With 5000 examples stamped — 309 of which
had already been fitted to US-spec NSXs and the balance
on Integras and Legends — Honda San firmly suggested
the vertical goalposts be joined by a small horizontal
bar. The bar, he reasoned, made the design A (for
Acura) and an H (for Honda) — and his was the final
word. The decision caused a flurry of activity, with
badges being pried off and on paintwork with screwdrivers.
Every single original badge has been accounted for
— and destroyed.

ABOUT ALISO VIEJO
CALIFORNIA
Aliso Viejo is a city in Orange County, California, United States.
As of the 2000 census, Aliso Viejo population was 40,166. Aliso
Viejo became Orange County's 34th city on July 1, 2001, and
has been the only city in Orange County to incorporate since
2000. It borders the cities of Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna
Niguel, and Laguna Woods. Aliso Viejo was originally part of
the 22,000 acre Moulton Ranch. The Moulton family took title
in the 1890's to land originally granted to Juan Avila by the
Mexican government in 1842. In 1976, Mission Viejo Company purchased
the last 6,600 acres for a new planned community that is now
part of the City of Aliso Viejo. The first residential units
were offered in March of 1982 and the first residents arrived
in November of the same year. (previous information from The
City of Aliso Viejo) Aliso Viejo became Orange County 's 34th
city on July 1, 2001. The first planned community in Orange
County, it was targeted to middle and upper-middle income homebuyers.
Aliso Viejo had only 7,600 residents in 1990. Developers were
building homes, condos and apartments so fast that there were
waiting lists and lotteries held for singles and couples anxious
to be a part of the community. By 2000, the population expanded
by 32,000 residents, making it the top city in population growth
in Orange County. The zipcodes of Aliso Viejo are: 92653, 92656,
92698

ABOUT
IRVINE CALIFORNIA

Irvine
borders Tustin and is an incorporated city in Orange County,
California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed
by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated
on December 28, 1971, the 69.7 square mile (180.5 km²) city
has a population of 202,079 (as of 2007). It has annexed in
the past an undeveloped area to the north, and has also annexed
the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, most of which
is to be made into a park called the Orange County Great Park.
Currently, Irvine is larger in land area than any other city
in Orange County because of its annexation of the southern
and eastern unincorporated areas. In June 2007, it was named
The Safest City in the United States (Irvine has held the
title since 2005)

Irvine
is home to the University of California, Irvine (UCI), the
Orange County Center of University of Southern California,
and the Irvine Campus of Alliant International University,
Concordia University, California State University Fullerton,
Pepperdine University and Irvine Valley College.

HISTORY OF
IRVINEEvidence of early campsites and rock shelters
in the undeveloped parts of the city puts prehistoric man in the
Irvine area at least 12,000 years ago. Irvine was inhabited by the
Gabrielino Indians about 2,000 years ago. Gaspar de Portola, a Spanish
explorer, came to the area in 1769. This brought on the establishment
of forts, missions and herds of cattle. The King of Spain parceled
out land for missions and private use. After Mexico's independence
from Spain in 1821, the Mexican government secularized the missions
and assumed control of the lands. It began distributing the land
to Mexican citizens who applied for grants. Three large Spanish/Mexican
grants made up the land that later became the Irvine Ranch: Rancho
Santiago de Santa Ana, Rancho San Joaquin and Rancho Lomas de Santiago.
In 1864, Jose Sepulveda, owner of Rancho San Joaquin sold 50,000
acres (200 km²) to Benjamin and Thomas Flint, Llewellyn Bixby and
James Irvine for $18,000 to resolve debts due to the Great Drought.
In 1866, Irvine, Flint and Bixby acquired 47,000-acre (190 km²)
Rancho Lomas de Santiago for $7,000. After the Mexican-American
war the land of Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana fell prey to tangled
titles. In 1868, the ranch was divided among four claimants as part
of a lawsuit: Flint, Bixby and Irvine. The ranches were devoted
to sheep grazing. However, in 1870, tenant farming was permitted.

In 1878, James Irvine acquired his partners' interests for $150,000.
His 110,000 acres (450 km²) stretched 23 miles (37 km) from the
Pacific Ocean to the Santa Ana River. James Irvine died in 1886.
The ranch was inherited by his son, James Irvine, Jr. who incorporated
it into The Irvine Company. James, Jr. shifted the ranch operations
to field crops, olive and citrus crops. In 1888, the Santa Fe Railroad
extended its line to Fallbrook Junction (north of San Diego) and
named a station along the way after James Irvine. The town that
formed around this station was named Myford, after Irvine's son,
because a post office in Calaveras County already bore the family
name. The town was later renamed Irvine, however, in 1914.[1] By
1918, 60,000 acres (240 km²) of lima beans were grown on the Irvine
Ranch. Two Marine Corps facilities were built on the ranch during
World War II and sold to the government. James Irvine, Jr. died
in 1947 at the age of 80. His son, Myford, assumed the presidency
of The Irvine Company. He began opening small sections of the Irvine
Ranch to urban development. Myford died in 1959. The same year,
the University of California asked The Irvine Company for 1,000
acres (4 km²) for a new university campus. The Irvine Company gave
away the requested land and the State purchased an additional 500
acres (2 km²).William
Pereira, the University's consulting architect, and The Irvine Company
planners drew up master plans for a city of 50,000 people surrounding
the new university. The area would include industrial, residential
and recreational areas, commercial centers and greenbelts. The new
community was to be named Irvine; the old agricultural town of Irvine,
where the railroad station and post office were located, was renamed
East Irvine. The villages of Turtle Rock, University Park, Culverdale,
the Ranch and Walnut were completed by 1970. On December 28, 1971,
the residents of these communities voted to incorporate a substantially
larger city than the one envisioned by the Pereira plan. By January
1999, Irvine had a population of 134,000 and a total area of 43
square miles (111 km²).

ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY:

Orange County is a county in Southern California, United States.
Its county seat is Santa Ana. According to the 2000 Census, its
population was 2,846,289, making it the second most populous county
in the state of California, and the fifth most populous in the United
States. The state of California estimates its population as of 2007
to be 3,098,121 people, dropping its rank to third, behind San Diego
County. Thirty-four incorporated cities are located in Orange County;
the newest is Aliso Viejo.

Unlike many other large centers of population in the United States,
Orange County uses its county name as its source of identification
whereas other places in the country are identified by the large
city that is closest to them. This is because there is no defined
center to Orange County like there is in other areas which have
one distinct large city. Five Orange County cities have populations
exceeding 170,000 while no cities in the county have populations
surpassing 360,000. Seven of these cities are among the 200 largest
cities in the United States.

Orange County is also famous as a tourist destination, as the county
is home to such attractions as Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm,
as well as sandy beaches for swimming and surfing, yacht harbors
for sailing and pleasure boating, and extensive area devoted to
parks and open space for golf, tennis, hiking, kayaking, cycling,
skateboarding, and other outdoor recreation. It is at the center
of Southern California's Tech Coast, with Irvine being the primary
business hub.

The average price of a home in Orange County is $541,000. Orange
County is the home of a vast number of major industries and service
organizations. As an integral part of the second largest market
in America, this highly diversified region has become a Mecca for
talented individuals in virtually every field imaginable. Indeed
the colorful pageant of human history continues to unfold here;
for perhaps in no other place on earth is there an environment more
conducive to innovative thinking, creativity and growth than this
exciting, sun bathed valley stretching between the mountains and
the sea in Orange County.

Orange County was Created March 11 1889, from part of Los Angeles
County, and, according to tradition, so named because of the flourishing
orange culture. Orange, however, was and is a commonplace name in
the United States, used originally in honor of the Prince of Orange,
son-in-law of King George II of England.

About
Mission Viejo California:Located
in South Orange County, Mission Viejo is a planned community that
once had cattle grazing on its hillsides. The land was purchased
from the O’Neill family nearly half a century ago, and the
first homes were built in 1966. By the late 80’s, Mission
Viejo became a city, and now houses almost 100,000 residents. Locals
enjoy activities at the Mission Viejo Lake, shopping at The Shops
at Mission Viejo and the Kaleidoscope Courtyard, and their biggest
celebration of the year at the July 4th Street Fair. The community
is also proud of their world renowned Nadadores swim team and Saddleback
Community College, which offers some of the best courses in the
county. The zipcodes of Mission Viejo are: 92675, 92690, 92691,
92692, 92694

Mission Hospital
is the largest hospital in south Orange County and serves as the
area's regional trauma center. It also offers one of two Children's
Hospital of Orange County locations providing care for children.
Mission Viejo has numerous recreational areas such as the Norman
P. Murray Community and Senior Center[18] there are about two parks
per square mile. The city has three golf courses, The Mission Viejo
Country Club, Casta del Sol Golf Course, and the Arroyo Trabuco
Golf Club. At the center of the city is a man-made lake, Lake Mission
Viejo, a private association for Mission Viejo residents with custom
waterfront homes, condominiums, boat and paddle board rentals, fishing,
and swim beaches. Lake Mission Viejo also holds events such as music
concerts and movie screenings, usually complimentary for members
and typically during the summer season. The Shops at Mission Viejo
and the Kaleidescope Courtyards serve as the city's two main shopping,
dining and entertainment centers. Both cater to an upper middle
class customer demographic and feature family-oriented facilities
and services. Mission Viejo also hosts a number of athletic events
such as 5K runs and triathlons throughout the year. The city holds
a variety of annually recurring events to celebrate holidays including
a street fair and fireworks for Independence Day and public decorations
and interactive activities for children during the winter holiday
season featuring representation for multiple popular religions.

HISTORY
Mission Viejo was purchased by John Forster, a Mexican also known
as Don Juan. During the Mexican-American War, Forster provided fresh
horses to United States military forces which were used on the march
of San Diego to retake Los Angeles. Mission Viejo was a hilly region
primarily used as cattle and sheep grazing land, since it was of
little use to farmers. This city was one of the last regions of
Orange County to be urbanized due to its geologic complexity. In
1960, early developers dismissed most of the land in Mission Viejo
as simply "undevelopable".[8] Donald Bren, an urban planner who
later became the president of the Irvine Company, drafted a master
plan which placed roads in the valleys and houses on the hills,
and contoured to the geography of the area.[8] The plan worked,
and by 1980 much of the city of Mission Viejo was completed. During
the late 1970s and the 1980s, houses in Mission Viejo were in such
high demand that housing tracts often sold out before construction
even began on them.[9] The houses and shopping centers in the city
are almost uniformly designed in a Spanish mission style, with "adobe"-like
stucco walls and barrel-tile roofs. Many point to Mission Viejo
as the first and largest manifestation of Bren's obsession with
Spanish architecture. Bren's company was also the creator of the
developments in Irvine, and Newport Beach. The company expanded
its operations and went on to build the Lakes project in Tempe,
Arizona, Mission Viejo Aurora in Colorado and was the initial master
planner of Highlands Ranch, both in the Denver Metropolitan area.
The seal of the city of Mission Viejo was designed and drawn by
Carl Glassford, an artist and former resident of the city.

Sports
Mission Viejo has a major youth athletic facility, Mission Viejo
Youth Athletic Park. The park consists of eight baseball fields
and five soccer fields. It is host to Little League District 68,
AYSO Region 84, and four competitive soccer clubs: Pateadores Soccer
Club, Mission Viejo Soccer Club, West Coast Futbol Club, and Saddleback
United Soccer Club. The Mission Viejo Nadadores Swimming and Mission
Viejo Nadadores Diving Team won a string of national championships
and produced a number of Olympians and world record holders in the
1970s and 1980s. Olympians included Shirley Babashoff, Brian Goodell,
Larson Jenson, Maryanne Graham, Nicole Kramer, Casy Converse, Marcia
Morey, Dara Torres, and Greg Louganis. Mission Viejo hosted the
Road Cycling Events during the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los
Angeles. The old O'Neill Road was renamed Olympiad Rd. in honor
of the Olympic events in 1984. There is also a soccer facility,
now used by the town's youth soccer program, that was used as a
training field by the United States men's national soccer team before
and during the 1994 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States.
Mission Viejo is the largest AYSO Region in the country. The Saddleback
College ballpark hosted the Mission Viejo Vigilantes minor league
baseball team of the Western Baseball League from 1996–2001. Now
the ballpark has a semi-pro collegiate team, the Orange County Fire.
Mission Viejo is also the hometown of NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez,
Minnesota Twins pitcher Phil Hughes, and Chicago White Sox first
baseman Adam LaRoche, former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Don August,
Boston Red Sox outfielder Allen Craig, Top Shot Season 4 Champion
Chris Cheng, and PBA Tour Champion Scott Norton.

Mission
Viejo neighbors the city of Lake Forest: Lake Forest is a planned
community that was once a stagecoach stop between Los Angeles and
San Diego. The community then called “El Toro” was in
fact formed after WWII with the help of the El Toro Marine Base.
Lake Forest became a city in the early 1990’s, and now prides
itself on having the first of Orange County’s historical parks
by establishing Heritage Hill; the park was created to preserve
Lake Forest’s vibrant history. Lake Forest also has a new
planned neighborhood, Foothill Ranch offers both wilderness and
community. Foothill Ranch is home to The Whiting Ranch Wilderness
Park, which consists of trails, rock formations, and streams as
well as a rest stop and exhibits. This community is close to shopping,
dining and entertainment in South Orange County. Within Lake Forest
are the communities of Portola Hills, El Toro and Foothill Ranch.
Lake Forest borders Aliso Viejo, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills,
Laguna Woods, Laguna Beach and Rancho Santa Margarita. Lake Forest
offers fantastic mountain views and quiet living for singles, couples
and families in Orange County. Residents enjoy swimming, tennis,
basketball, and volleyball at the brand new Concourse Park. The
community is just minutes from various shopping centers and marketplaces.
The zipcodes of Lake Forest are: 92609, 92630, 92610, 92679.And
Mission Viejo neighbors the city of Rancho Santa Margarita:
Before it was owned by the O’Neill family, Rancho Santa Margarita
was home to Shoshonean Native Americans. RSM is one of the many
planned communities in Orange County and is also one of the newest,
having become a city in 2000. The community known as “A Small
City with the Soul of a Small Village” is the perfect place
for families and today nearly 50,000 people call it home. Community
activities such as the Fourth of July Celebration and the Summer
Concert Series are favorites among residents. Dove Canyon is a gated
community in Rancho Santa Margarita. Within
Rancho Santa Margarita are the communities of Dove Canyon and Coto
De Cazathat border the Cleveland
National Forest and is best known for its choice golf courses. Rancho
Santa Margarita borders Ladera Ranch, San Juan Capistrano, Mission
Viejo, San Clemente, Talega, Trabucco Canyon and Laguna Niguel.
Residents enjoy the outdoors at the Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park
and the Wagon Wheel Park Bike Trails, as well as a variety
of community and family events such as the Boo Bash and Holiday
in the Park. The zipcodes of Rancho Santa Margarita are: 92688,
92679.